Goodyear, USW contract set to expire Saturday

Published: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 5:12 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, July 25, 2013 at 9:19 a.m.

With the United Steelworkers' contract with Goodyear and other tire manufacturers expiring Saturday, a USW Solidarity Alert Tuesday warned members to “prepare for the financial struggle that may lie ahead.”

It said if members felt the need to apply for a 401K loan, that should be done before the contract expires at 11 p.m. Saturday.

The USW Solidarity Alert said “little progress” had been made on the issues of wages, vacation time, health-care costs, pension issues and grandfathering of employees in some categories.

Ed Markey, vice president of corporate communications for Goodyear, confirmed that talks are ongoing in Cincinnati, but declined further comment.

The last information posted by Goodyear on the website www.goodyearnegotiations.com said talks had resumed after a break for the Fourth of July holiday.

“Goodyear's goal in negotiations is to achieve a contract that improves its competitive position by addressing issues related to productivity and flexibility improvements in its factories, as well as pension and health-care benefits costs,” a statement on the site said.

The union also is in talks with Bridgestone Americas and BFGoodrich.

Negotiations began in April.

“We're still negotiating,” Tony Montana, a USW spokesman, said. “We have a long way to go on a number of major issues, both economic and non-economic, and we're going to continue negotiating and hopefully reach a fair agreement.”

Local 12 Vice President Rick Clifton said union members Tuesday met with local Goodyear officials to discuss how operations would go if there were a strike and how to have an orderly plant shutdown.

Clifton said he hopes an agreement can be reached. He said if the union's negotiating committee feels the sides are “close” to an agreement at the deadline, work can continue on a day-to-day basis while details are worked out.

That was done for several months during negotiations in 2006, before the union went on strike for three months. The contract was settled in December.

The contract in 2009 was settled before it expired.

Clifton said he is hopeful an agreement can be reached.

“Nobody wants a strike,” he said. “We want a fair and equitable contract, and we all hope we can do it.”

Clifton said all plants, including Gadsden, had voted to give the policy committee that is handling negotiations the authority to call a strike.

He stressed that is not the same as a strike vote. He said 98.6 percent here voted to give the policy committee the authority to call a strike if the committee members believe it is necessary.

<p>With the United Steelworkers' contract with <a href="http://www.gadsdentimes.com/goodyear"><b>Goodyear</b></a> and other tire manufacturers expiring Saturday, a USW Solidarity Alert Tuesday warned members to “prepare for the financial struggle that may lie ahead.”</p><p>It said if members felt the need to apply for a 401K loan, that should be done before the contract expires at 11 p.m. Saturday.</p><p>According to Goodyear, the contract covers 8,000 associates at plants in Gadsden; Akron, Ohio; Buffalo, N.Y.; Danville, Va.; Fayetteville, N.C. and Topeka, Kan.</p><p>The USW Solidarity Alert said “little progress” had been made on the issues of wages, vacation time, health-care costs, pension issues and grandfathering of employees in some categories.</p><p>Ed Markey, vice president of corporate communications for Goodyear, confirmed that talks are ongoing in Cincinnati, but declined further comment.</p><p>The last information posted by Goodyear on the website www.goodyearnegotiations.com said talks had resumed after a break for the Fourth of July holiday.</p><p>“Goodyear's goal in negotiations is to achieve a contract that improves its competitive position by addressing issues related to productivity and flexibility improvements in its factories, as well as pension and health-care benefits costs,” a statement on the site said.</p><p>The union also is in talks with Bridgestone Americas and BFGoodrich.</p><p>Negotiations began in April.</p><p>“We're still negotiating,” Tony Montana, a USW spokesman, said. “We have a long way to go on a number of major issues, both economic and non-economic, and we're going to continue negotiating and hopefully reach a fair agreement.”</p><p>Local 12 Vice President Rick Clifton said union members Tuesday met with local Goodyear officials to discuss how operations would go if there were a strike and how to have an orderly plant shutdown.</p><p>Clifton said he hopes an agreement can be reached. He said if the union's negotiating committee feels the sides are “close” to an agreement at the deadline, work can continue on a day-to-day basis while details are worked out.</p><p>That was done for several months during negotiations in 2006, before the union went on strike for three months. The contract was settled in December.</p><p>The contract in 2009 was settled before it expired.</p><p>Clifton said he is hopeful an agreement can be reached.</p><p>“Nobody wants a strike,” he said. “We want a fair and equitable contract, and we all hope we can do it.”</p><p>Clifton said all plants, including Gadsden, had voted to give the policy committee that is handling negotiations the authority to call a strike. </p><p>He stressed that is not the same as a strike vote. He said 98.6 percent here voted to give the policy committee the authority to call a strike if the committee members believe it is necessary.</p>